Printing apparatus



March 14, 1939. (H. VAN R. SCHEEL PR INTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,150,401 PRINTING APPARATUS Henry Van Riper Scheel, Passaic, 1\T. J. Application September 13, 1935, Serial No. 40,399

14 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and means of marking sheet material and especially to methods and means of printing the surface of sheet material. The invention'particularly relates to methods and means of printing, by means of plates or similar printing device, sheets of standard or predetermined size and shape with the printing to be applied thereto in a predetermined relation toforms, diagrams or other printing previously applied to the sheet.

Many devices are now in use for printing from a prepared printing element or plate, containing the form or design to be printed impressed, molded or otherwise formed in the element or plate and so arranged that when a sheet of material of predetermined shape and size is placed in a predetermined relation to said printing element or plate an impression or imprint of said plate may bemade upon the face of the sheet. Such devices 1 have been so constructed and arranged that, when preprinted with a desired form, such as a bill or voucher form or a sales slip or other document bearing an arrangement of lines, printing and similar marks, said sheet may be so placed in the machine or device that with a single stroke or action of the machine, either automatically or at the will of the operator, an impression or imprint from the plate may be made upon the surface of the sheet in a definite and predetermined relation to said form printed thereon. For example, a bill or a payment voucher prepared-by such a machine as a tabulating billing machine, or when prepared-by means of a typewriter or other printing device, may subsequently require the imprint of the name of the customer or of the vendor of the goods as the case may be. This imprint of the customers or vendors name may be accompanied by the address, by identification numbers or other symbols, depending upon the purpose of the bill, voucher or other document.

In order to facilitate the work of preparing such documents, heretofore there have been in use printing elements or plates of permanent character in which are formed as by molding or die pressing, the name of the customer or vendor or other name of person or corporation, together with such other identifying and ancillary data and information as is suitable for the purpose in hand. In many cases such plates have been arranged in devices with mechanism for applying ink or other printing material to the face of the letters or other printing surface, an impress or imprint of the inked surfaces of the plate upon a face of thesheet then being made. In a device shown and described in theUnited' States Letters Patent No. 1,801,592 instead of the ink or printing material being first applied to the printing surface of the plate the parts are so arranged with respect to the sheet to be printed that the printing surface of the plate is adjacent one face of 5 the sheet and the means for applying the ink or other printing material is'adjacent the other face of the sheet, pressure being so applied as to cause the printing surfaces of theplate to contact the sheet and by pressure through the sheet to cause the printing material'to beapplied to the opposite face of the sheet in areas corresponding to the printing surfaces of the plate.

Apparatus has" also been proposed heretofore for feeding a continuous sheet len'gthwisethereof, which sheet has been prepared by printing or other process with marks or imprint occupying successive predetermined areas and in predetermined relation to each other in the length of the sheet, to provide the documentary forms referred to above. These devices have been provided with mechanisms for feeding such a sheet intermittently, thatis, from a position in which one predetermined area of the sheet may be printed to' a position in which an adjacent similar area is in position to be printed, thereupon stopping the sheet and holding the sheet in said second position until the printing or other marking is applied thereto.

The present invention is concerned with methods of which the methods carried out by means of apparatus functioning in the manner described in said Patent No. 1,801,592 and by means of apparatus for effecting intermittent motion of thesheet as just referred to are typical. 35 Especially when utilizing printing elements or plates which have predetermined forms thereon for the printing ofpredetermined and definite information, and particularly when such information is to be used repeatedly for printing 40 upon documents or forms such as bills, vouchers, etc., it becomes necessary to be able readily to select the desired printing element or plate containing the required information. In many cases with the apparatus as heretofore used it has been necessary to select .a plurality of said printing elements or plates, and to arrange them in a predetermined order so that they might be fed to the device for printing upon the sheet. "Ihe present invention has for one of its purposes the elimination of the necessity of arranging the selected plates in a predetermined order for use in the printing device; 1 I

By means of the apparatus of the present invention operated in the mannerhereafter to' be,

described it becomes necessary only to select the desired printing element or plate in the order as determined and indicated by the order of delivery of the form, bill, voucher or other document through the feeding machine. As this feeding is intermittent and as such a form, bill, voucher or other document may contain, by the entry thereon of the individual items of sale, purchase or other information, an indication which will identify it with the name of the customer, vendor or other party to which the document refers, the printing element or plate may be at once selected from its file and may be inserted in the machine for printing upon the particular form or document before movement again is given to the/continuous sheet to move the succeeding area occupied'bythe succeeding form or document into the printing position.

In order to carry out this purpose of the invention, and particularly in order to maintain the advantage of feeding a continuous sheet which carries, upon succeeding areas thereof, aseries of forms or documents upon which the information contained in the successive printing elements or plates is to be printed, the invention so arranges the apparatus and the various devices that the printing element may be moved into and out of its printing position and into'and out of a position in which it is accessible for removal and replacement by another similar printing element, this movement preferably beingeffected while the sheet is at rest. During this period of rest between the movements of the sheet to bring the successive areas thereof into printing position,

not only may the succeeding document be identified in order properly to select the corresponding printing element or plate but during this period the printing element previously. used may be re-' moved from the device and immediately replaced in its file, the printing element required for the next document beingimmediately selected and placed in the printing device. Upon movement of the printing device into printing position the next form or document then may be printed.

In order, however, to make accessible the printing element so that it conveniently may be removed from the device it becomes necessary so to arrange the apparatus that the printing element may be moved into a positon clear of the'sheet, it being not possible or at least being inconvenient to move the sheet clear of the printingfldevice because the sheet is continuous and has printed on it in the successive areas lengthwise thereof the forms or documents identified or to be identified with a customer or vendors name or other name and ancillary information carried by the printing element. It is preferable to keep the continuous sheet in its feeding position so that the operator can readily see it and the information or record thereon and can control its feeding movement.

While in printing devices in general use heretofore the printing element has been moved into contact with the sheet, and after the impress or imprint has been made has been movedout of contact with the sheet, I propose by the arrangement of my invention to move the printing element or plate in a direction which is like-extending with one of the surface dimensions of the sheet and preferably transversely of the direction of the motion of the continuous sheet. By such a movement, particularly when the movement is transversely of the direction of motion of the sheet, the printing element may be moved into a'position clear of the sheet, which makes it accessible for replacement by another printing element without disturbing or requiring motion of the mechanism for feeding the sheet. Moreover, when utilizing the printing element of the type described in said Patent No. 1,801,592, by means of which the printing surfaces or characters upon the printing element or plate may be in such form as to be read directly, that is, they are in the non-reversed order as in ordinary printing elements or plates, this movement of the printing element into a position clear of the'sheet may be so effected as to maintain said element in position to be directly read when clear of the sheet. In many printing .devices the movement of the printing element out of contact with the sheet, whether or not the printing surfaces or characters may be directly read, is efiected in such a way that the element cannot be seen in the position clear of the sheet. This is true of many rotary printing devices. By utilizing an arrangement of the printing element or plate with respect to the sheet and an-arrangement of the mechanism and means for applying the ink or printing material to the sheet in the manner new element being immediately found and inserted in the manner referred to above.

The movement of the printing element in a direction like-extending with the surface dimension of-the sheet and preferably transversely of its motion may be accomplished by means which in a simple embodiment are reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the sheet into and out of the printing position and into and out of a position in which the printing element clear of the sheet may be removed and replaced by another printing'element. Within the scope of the invention however the movement of the printing element may have a component in said direction like-extending with the surface dimension of the sheet and also a component transversely of the surface of the sheet to move said element into accessible position clear of the sheet.

My invention also includes means for accomplishing the intermittent motion of the sheet under the control of the operator while securing the motion thereof through the desired or predetermined distance from the. printing position upon one form or document to the printing posi-' tion upon another form or document. Moreover, the apparatus of the invention includes means for effecting such movement between two printing positions upon the same form or document, that is, upon a single area of the sheet while also being effective to move the sheet to the printing position of the succeeding form, or document. This movement-and these movements may be elfected by the means provided by the invention so as to effect the subsidiary movement within a given area of a form or document, that is, from one printing position within said area to another printing position within said area. If desired in the succeeding area only a single impress may be taken while in the second succeeding area the sheet may be stopped for two or more such impresses orimprints. Other combinations may be made as desired, as willbe more clearly under- *stood'from the description to"fo1low:in iconnec- :be wound at'the delivery side of the apparatus.

tion with'the drawings.

The invention provides means for producing a positive movement of the sheetthrough predetermined distances between the positions f the succeeding areas thereof for imprinting. The'invention also provides for cooperation of the means for effecting the intermittent motion and :of' the means for effecting this motion in a positive' pre- .determined manner with means for effecting the movement of the printing element or plate in the direction like-extending with the surface of the sheet.

The invention in certain phases thereof provides for automatic movement of the printing element or plate from the printing positionto the position clear of the sheet. This phase of the invention further includes means for automatically effecting release of the plate or of the plate supporting means upon actuation of the means for producing movement of the sheet. The'invention further contemplates, upon restoration of the means for supporting the plate or the printing element to the printing position, engagement of said plate supporting means with said holding means, said engaging means being biased toengage the plate or its supporting means-and to hold it in the printing position. Likewise, the invention contemplates release of the plate or its supporting means upon actuation of the means for holding the sheet in the printing position when said means is actuated to release the sheet to permit motion thereof.

The invention now will be more clearly understood from the following description of the drawings in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure '2 shows in elevation apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 3 shows in enlarged-detail the arrangement of a printing device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure'2;

Figure 5 shows a modified arrangement of the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a section on line 66 of Figure 5; and

Figures 7 and 8 show details of a member-of the apparatus of the invention.

In Figure 1 a table or other suitable support is shown at I. Arranged in suitablerelation to said table is a receptacle 3 in which may be placed thesheet material 5 folded in the-manner of a fan so that the sheet 5 maybe fed therefrom as a continuous sheet of considerable length. If desired, however, for the receptacle 3 containing the folded sheet 5, a roll revolving upon an axis and having wound thereon the continuous sheet 5 may be substituted. Supported by suitable bearings I fastened'to the underside of the table I is mounted the roll 9, in contact with the circumferential surface of which the sheet 5 passes and is carried forward to the roll II similarly supported by bearings 8 at the front side of the table I. The rolls 9 and II are so mounted-with respect to the surface of the table I that their circumferential surface is somewhat above the surface of said table. Thus the sheet 5: may be carried forward from the box 3 over the rollslz9 and II and may bedelivered toithebo'x :.I3 at the front side of the table into which it may be delivered in the folded arrangement or vin'any desired manner. If preferred, in place of the :box

-.I3 by:means of a-take-up roll,. .the= sheet Samay Theroll II maybe provided with pins I2 when, as intsomecases, the sheet 5 is provided with perforations so as to secure a positive movement of said sheet 5 under the action of the roll I I when said roll is positively rotated. If desired, the roll 9 also may be provided with pins as is the roll II to maintain alignment of the sheet. In some cases, however, this provision is unnecessary, the

alignment of the sheet being sufiiciently well insured bythe feeding of the sheet from the box 3-or other supply device as -it isdrawn forward by the pins I2 on theroll II.

As may be seen from Figure 2, upon the ends of the shaft I4 carrying the roll II are mounted pinions I 6 and H. The pinion I6 meshes with the gear IBkeyed upon the shaft supported in a bearing bracket 2| fastened to the under side of the table I. Upon the opposite end of the shaft '20 is fastened one member 22 of a clutch, of'which the other clutch member is 23. By means of a suitable spring 25 the clutch member 23 is biased to a position of disengagement from the clutch member 22. Said clutch member 23 is provided with a hub '21 internally grooved to fit a splined shaft 28 so as to be positively driven upon rotation ofsaid shaft 28.

At 30 is shown the casing of a reduction gear of any suitable type, the shaft 28 extending through one wall of said casing and the shaft'32 extending through the opposite wall of said casing 30. Between the shaft 32 and the shaft 28 gearing is provided to effect a reduction of the speed of the shaft 28 with respect to shaft 32. Fastened upon the shaft 32 is a pulley 33 over which passes a belt 34, said belt also passing over a pulley 35 upon the shaft of a motor 36.

From the description so far given of the apparatusshown in Figure 2 it will be apparent that the motor 36 may drive the clutch member 23 with aposi-tive continuous rotation and in a speed relation to that of the motor 36 determined by the ratio of the pulleys 33 and 34 and the gear ratio of the reduction gear 30. Upon engagement of the clutch member 23 with the clutch member 22 rotation may be given to the roll II through the gears I8 and I6. The ratio of the gears I 6 and I8 may be such as to provide for mountingof the parts below the table I and the over-all ratio between the speed of the motor 36 and the speed of the roll II is preferably so arranged that with a constant rotation of the motor 36 the roll II may be moved at a speed suitable for the particular work inhand in consideration of the character of the sheet andof the length of the form areas to .be printed or the space between the successive printing positions upon the sheet. If, 'for'e'xample, in a practical case, the speed of the motor 36 is 1500B. P. M. the speed reduction eflectedforthe roll II may be such as to cause said roll to rotate at about 50 R. P. M.

If the diameter of the roll is, for example, about 3%" then the circumference of the roll being about 10", the speed of the sheet would be about 500 inches per minute. It will be understood,

however, that the clutch member 23 may be soprinted or .may be thedistancebetween'two printing positions on the same form.

7 I9 in a suitable bracket 80 fastened upon the As shown in Figure 2 the pinion I I engages the gear which is'mounted upon the shaft 39 which extends from one side of the reduction gear, of which the casing is shown in Figure 2 at 42. From the other side of said casing 42 extends the other shaft M of the reduction gear. Upon said shaft 4I so extending is fastened a caml44, of which one form may be seen in Figure 4. For reasons which will be clear from further description to follow, the ratio of the revolutions of the cam 44 with respect to the revolutions of the roll II is such that the cam 44, in ,the particular embodiment shown in Figure 4, rotates one revolution for a movement of the sheet 5 equal to one form length or between equidistant printing positions lengthwise of the sheet 5. If, as in the example given above, the roll I I is 3 diameter, equivalent approximately to 10 circumference, and if the length of the form to be printed is also 10', and if also one imprint is to be made upon the sheet 5 for each form length, then, taking into consideration the ratio of the gears I1 and 4D, the gear ratio provided by the reduction gear 42 must be such as to secure one revolution of the cam 44 for one revolution of the roll II. If,

however, the diameter of the roll II were about 4" giving a circumference of the roll ll of 2.36 requiring somewhat more than four revolutions of said roll II for a form length of about 10", then approximately, with the form of cam 44 illustrated in Figure 4 having one recess 46 in the circumference thereof, the ratio between the revolutions of the cam 44 and the roll II should be approximately as 1 to 4.

Pivoted upon a suitable bracket 5 I, as shown in Figure 2, is a bell crank lever 56 having an arm 52 extending to engage the clutch member 23. Said engagement is effected in the well known manner by a fork 53 formed at the upper end of the arm 52. Fastened in the branches of said fork are studs 54 which operably fit in the groove 56 of the portion 58 of the clutch member 23. Movement of the arm 52 toward the right about the shaft 55 fastened in the bracket 5I causes movement of the clutch member 23 into clutching engagement with'the clutch member 22 to cause rotation thereof and of the roll II, as described above.

The bell crank lever has its arm 60 extend ing generally horizontally under the apparatus and carries adjacent its outer end a cam ball 62 supported between lugs 63 to rotate upon a stud 64. The cam ball 62 is so formed as to bear upon the circumference 43 of the cam 44 and upon the curved surface 45 of the depression or notch in said cam 44. Under the action of the spring 25 acting to separate the clutch members 22 and 23 or, if necessary, by the aid of an auxiliary spring 65 fastened to a pin 61 at the extremity of the arm 60 of the bell crank 58, said bell crank is biased to move so that the arm '52 holds the clutch member 23 out of engagement with the clutch member 22. The extremity of the arm 60 of the bell crank may be guided in a suitable bracket 68 fastened upon the under side of the table I. The spring 55 maybe connected to a pin 69 fastened in said bracket 68.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, fastened to the arm by means of 'a connecting pin I2 is a rod I3 connected at its lower end to a treadle 15. A pin 15 passes through a slot TI in the web 18 and provides for the angular motion of the treadle I5. The treadle'15 is pivoted upon a pin From the above description and from Figures 2 and 4 it now will be clear that upon pressing down upon the treadle 15 the cam ball 62 is moved outwardly from the notch 46 and the clutch member 23 is moved into engagement with a treadle conveniently may be held down by the operator until the cam has rotated to bring the circumferential portion 43 thereof into contact with the cam ball 62. Thereafter the cam will hold the arm Bilof the bell crank depressed, and correspondingly the clutch members 23 and 22 will remain in driving engagement, throughout that portion of the rotation of the cam 44 which is of uniform circular outline, that is, while the cam ball 62 is rolling upon the portion 43 of said cam 44.

When the cam ball 62 has reached the point 41, under the action of the springs 25 and the cam ball will be forced into the notch 46 of the cam 44. Correspondingly, the clutch members 23 and 22 will be disengaged from driving contact with each other and theroll II may cease to rotate and the sheet 5 may be stopped. Likewise, the cam 44 is stopped and the cam ball remains in the notch 46 as shown in Figure 4, thus holding thecam against rotation and holding the sheet in a predetermined position with respect to the previous similar position of the cam 44 prior to drawing the sheet forward in the manner just described. It will thus be apparent that by means of the cam 44 and the notch 46 thereof acting with the mechanism for starting and stopping the rotation of the roll I I, an exact and predetermined movement of the sheet 5 may be obtained between two printing positions, that is, between two form lengths upon the sheet 5.

If it is desired to move the sheet into more than one printing position per form length then a cam of the form as shown in Figure '7 or Figure 8 may be used. When a cam of the outline shown in Figure '7 is substituted for the cam 44 of Figure 4 the sheet will be stopped at two points in the revolution of the cam, that is, at two points in a form length. These points with a cam of the outline shown in Figure '7 will be spaced approximately equidistant lengthwise of the sheet 5. If

a cam of the form shown in Figure 8 is utilized,

in which the notches instead of being opposite each other as in Figure 7 arein a different angular relation, the sheet may be stopped at points spaced apart lengthwise of the sheet determined by the angular displacement of one notch with respect to the other. It will be understood in the above description that 'these'cams are intended to replace cam 44 which, as mentioned above, in the particular embodiment of the invention being described rotates one revolution perform length, which may be one revolution in four revolutions of the roll I I. If a different length of sheet or a different form length isto be printed, modifications also may be obtained by changing the size of the roll I! or by changing the gear ratio of the reduction gear 42. By these variations it will be possible to secure one, 'two'or more printing positions per form length for any desired length of form; I

Mounted above the table I upon a stud passing through the table and into a bearing 8'! upon the underside of the table is a support 89. Said support 89 may be fastened to the stud 85 by a pin 90 as may be seen'in Figure 3. The stud 85 l is fitted to rotate in the bearing 81. The under side of the support 89 is provided with a boss 92 bearing upon the upper face of the table I. The bearing 81 is fastened by suitable fasteners 88 against rotation. In the bore 94 of a hub 96 extending laterally of the stud 85 is positioned a spring 91 held in place by a screw 98. The spring holds a ball 99 against the stud 85. The stud 85 is provided with recesses I88 spaced about the circumference of the stud. The support 89 thus may be swung upon the axis of the stud 85 into different positions and the recess I88 may be so positioned upon the stud with respect to the support 89 as to hold said support in desired posi' tions, such as may be seen in Figure 1, when. the ball 99 is in register with said recesses. This construction provides, however, for easy release of the support 89 so that it may readily be moved from one position to the other; that is, for example, from the dotted position in Figure 1 to the full line position, and then may be held in the new position.

The support 89 is formed with a slot I02 between an upper extension I04 and a lower arm I06. The recess I82, as may be seen from Figure 3, provides space through which the sheet 5 may pass in its movement with respect to a printing device I01. Said printing device may be of any suitable character. A particular form of the device suitable for the purposes of the present invention will be described hereafter.-

The device I01 may be carried by the upper extension I84 upon a bearing I08, pivoting upon a pin I09 in this bearing. The device I01, as may be seen from Figure 3, thus may be tilted from the position in full lines; in which it is arranged adjacent the sheet 5 for effecting the printing, to the position exposing the upper surface of the sheet when the support 89 is in the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 3. The position for printing also is shown in Figure 1. When the device I81 is in. the tiltedhposition it may rest against a stop III carried by the extension I04.

The particular printing device-shownin Figures l and 3 of the drawings; is of. the type inwhich a printing element H0. is positioned below the sheet 5 with its printing surfaces H3 adjacent the lower face of the sheet 5. The-printing element I I is suitably. fastened inv the arm' I06,

which is of such rigidity as to" support the printing element I I0 to receive the pressure applied upon the upper face of the sheet by the mechanism of the printing device I01, the printing being effected by pressure through the sheet 5 upon the printing surfaces I I8. Thus the surfaces I I3 do not become coated with ink or marking material and when the printing device I01 is tilted into the dotted position of Figure 3 movement of the device I01 as a whole may be effected relative to the sheet without danger of smearing or otherwise marring the sheet.

It will now be understood that the support 89, together with the printing device I01 and the printing element I18, may be rotated upon the axis of the stud 85 into the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, clear of the sheet, the device I01 being tilted to expose the printing element I I0. The printing element II 0', therefore, is accessible in a position clear of the sheet so that it may be removed from the arm I08, a new printing-element may be inserted and the support 89 then may be swung upon the axis of the stud 85 into the dotted position shown in Figure 1'. In these movements the ball 99, dropping into the respective recesses I89; will hold the support 89' and,

therefore, the printing device I01 and the'plate IIO respectively in the position clear of the sheet and in the printing position adjacent the surfaces of the sheet.

It will be understood that the printing element IIO, arranged in the manner described, may be of that type in which the printing surfaces or characters thereon may be in the non-reversed order. I Thus the characters readily may be read upon lifting the printing device I 81. The printing element I I0, therefore, may be removed from its support in the arm I06 and immediately filed in a file placed convenientto the table. Likewise, from this file readily may be selected a printing element with which to print the succeeding form upon the-sheet. This second printing element may be inserted at once in the arm I88 of the support 89 while the printing device I81 is lifted and the support 89 is in the full line position shown in Figure 1. The support'89 then may be swung intothe dotted position in Figure 1, the arm I106 carrying the printing elementpassing below the sheet 5. The printing device I81 then may be tilted down into the full line position shown in Figure 3 and the handle II2 thereof thereafter may be depressed to effect the application of the ink or marking material in the manner referred to above. Immediately upon completion of the inking motion,-that is, by allowing return of the handle II2 upward, the printing device I01 may be tilted and the support 89 .swung out into the position clear of the sheet Where the next change of'the printing elements or plates may be effected; As the printing elements IIO are without ink applied to the print ing surfaces thereof they may be handled without danger of smudging the sheet, the operators hands may be kept clean. and the files of these elements also may be kept-clean and orderly.

While these features of the printing device itself heretofore have been known, the invention makes possible the use of such a device and 3 affords the advantages thereof when used in connection with a continuous sheet, or a succession of sheets fed one after the other through the printingposition, upon which sheet successive imprints are to be made lengthwise thereof and particularly upon such a sheet or succession of. sheets which constitute substantially a series of forms or form areas in whichthe imprint is to be made in definite relation to the form areas or to a form of particular design printed thereon. It will be recognized from the above description that the movement of the printing element IIO isin a direction generally like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet 5. In the particular embodiment this movement is in a plane parallel to the faces of the sheet 5. This. movement makes possible ready access to the printing element IIIlwhen clear of the sheet without complicated mechanism .to bring the printing element into a position clear of the sheet, as well as into a position in which the operator may at once see the element when clear of the sheet and have access thereto from the position of operating the machine or of feeding the sheet forward.

In Figure 5 is shown a form of the printing device and the inking mechanism thereof of the type referred to in said Patent No. 1,801,592, modified to suit the purposes of the present invention. The handle III! is pivoted upon a pin II4 carried by a bracket I I 8 at the upper portion of the device I01. Passing through a hub H8 is a plunger I20 connectedby means of a pin I2I arm I26 to move toward the right in Figure ,5.

The arm I26, by means of spring I30 and bracket I32, is biased toward the left in Figure 5. Pastened to the casing of the printing device I01 is a guide piece I34 provided with a slot I36. A roll I38is provided with a rolling surface I40 of such diameter as to easily fit in the slot I36. The

diameter of the roll I38 is such in consideration of its mounting in the slot I36 that the circumference thereof bears upon the upper face of the sheet 5 to cause said sheet to press upon the printing surfaces I I3 under the weight of the roll I38.

A pin-like extension I42 of the roll I38 is enaged by a slot I44 in the lower end of the arm I26. As the handle I I2 is depressed and the arm I26 moves toward the right against the bias of the spring I30 under the action of the cam I23, the roll I38 is caused to move horizontally in the slot I36 to the right hand'end thereof.- When the handle is allowed to return upward under the action of the spring I30 the roll I38 is then returned to the left in the slot I36 to the position shown in Figure 5. The proportions of the parts are such with respect to the extent of the printing element I I0 that the roll I38 contacts with all the printing surfaces I I3 of said element in its 7 motion from one endof the slot I36 to the other. If, now, a ribbon I46, passing between reels I41 is held in position by guide plates I48 so as to have a portion of its extent closely adjacent to the upper face of the sheet 5 and in such position with respect to the slot I36 that the roller bears upon the ribbon and causes the ribbon to contact with the sheet '5, ink carried by the ribbon will be transferred to the sheet and applied thereto only upon the portions thereof which are pressed against the printing surfaces H3 of the plate or printing element H0.

"In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 the handle H2 is provided with an extension I50 formed at its extremity with a hooked portion I51. upon the upper end of a slide I55 arranged to slide upwardly and downwardly in a slidebracket I51. The hooked portion I M. of the extension I50 is so formed that the printing device I01 may be tilted in the manner described in connection with Figures land 3, the hook thus clearing the pin I53, the slide I55 being held against down ward movement by a pin or lug I58 upon which the slide I55 may rest. When the device I01 is pawl I64 is so formed and arranged as to be contacted by a pin or lug I66 carried by the slide I55. The pawl I64 also is provided with a toe I68 which contacts the end of a lever- I10-pivoted upon a pin I1I carried by a bracket I12 extend ing upwardly from the extension I04 of thesupport'89. Said lever I10 is biased by means of spring I13 fastened thereto and to the extension I04 to move upwardly that end of said lever I10 which is in contact with the toe I68 of the pawl I64. The end I14 of the lever'I10 may rest upon a stop I15 carried by the extension I 04, being held This hooked portion I51 engages a pin I53 to the handle II2. Upon the lower end of the thereagainst by the spring I13. Passing down through the stop I15 and slidable vertically therein is a latch pin I16 suitably connected to the end I14 of the lever I10. The lower end of the latch pin I16 passes through the extension 104 of the support 89 sufliciently to engage a hole or recess I18 in a slide plate I in which is suitably fastened the printing element IIO as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The slide I80 is arranged to slide reciprocably toward the left and right of Figure 5 in the recess I82 of the support 89. The slide I80 is formed with a bevel I84 at the upper side of the left hand end thereof. Upon this bevel may bear the lower end of the latch pin I16 when the slide plate is moved toward'the left, the latch pin I16 moving upwardly in. the stop I15, the

'lever I18 moving 'uponits pin I1I against the bias of the spring I13. When the'slide has been moved to the extreme left hand position, in which position the printing element IIO becomes positioned beneath the inking mechanism of the printing device I01, the latch I16 may drop into the. recess I18 to hold the slide I80 against motion.

7 At the right hand end of the slide I80 is shown a bracket I86 to which is fastened spring I81, the opposite end of the spring I81 being suitably fastened to a bracket held by the support 88. This spring I81 acts to bias the slide plate I80 to move toward the right.- If the latch pin I16 is lifted by tilting the lever I10 upon its pin'III against the bias of the spring I13 until the lower end of the latch pin I16 is released from the recess I18 of the slide plate I80, then the slide plate I80 carrying the printing element or plate H0 is drawn to the right by the spring I81 until the printing plate I I0 is clear of the sheet 5'. In this position in the manner referred to above the plate may be changed and a new one substituted therefor.

From the above description and by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings it will be understood that when the handle H2 is depressed to cause printing of the sheet in the manner described, the slide I55 will be lifted from its position of rest upon the pin I 58. In this motion the pin or lug I66 acts to lift the pawl I64 by contacting the right hand end thereof, tilting this pawl upon its pin I68 and lifting the toe I68 thereof from the right hand end of the lever I10 until the pin I66 passes above said pawl I 64. In this movement no movement of the lever I10 takes place and the slide plate I80 remains in the latched position. When, however, under the action of the spring I30 the handle H2 is permitted to return upwardly, the extension I55 will be moved downwardly and the slide plate I50 will be carried downwardly. The pin I66 which, during the upward movement has passed above the pawl I64'and permitted said pawl to drop back with its toe I68 resting upon the lever I10, will press upon the pawl I64 and cause the toe I68 to press upon the right hand end of the lever I10 thus causing the end I14 of said lever I10 to move upward and to carry the latch pin I16 upwardly to release the slide plate I80 in the manner described above. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the handle II2 approaches the upper limit of its motion the pressure of the pin I66 upon the pawl I64 is transmitted to the latch pin I16 and the motion thereof is completed upon completion of the upward movement of the handle II2. Thus the slide plate I80 carrying the printing element III] is released for movement of corresponding. 13050118 :fo'rn'r'area, or two impres sionsfrom'sthc same plate per form area maybe the printing-element to the:posltionaclearxofi the; sheet onlyafter the completion. of .the inkingop= eration effected by movement of-the roller toward.

The slide I89'is provided with a suitable exten-- sion I88 carrying a knobI89'by means of which the operator, against the bias of the spring I81 after changing the printing element or plate I I9,"

may move the slide plate I895toward the left into the position of engagement of thelatch I16 asdescribed.

TheknobIBS maybe provided with ashank I99 passing through theextension I88. Said shank I99 belowsaid extension I88 is provided with a collar l92 fastened to said-shank' somewhat above thelower end thereof. Between the collar-rand the lower side of the extension IE8 is a light'spring I 93 which biases the shank I99 and the knob- I 89'to move downwardly with respect to the extension I88. Carried by the knob I89 is a stop pin I95 arranged to pass through a :hole I96 in the extension I88-when in register therewith. The shank I99 is rotatable upon its axis in the hole in the extension I88 through which it passes. The stop pin I95, therefore, when lifted and turned into a position out of alignment with the hole I99 may'rest upon the upper face of the extension I88 to hold the shank I99 in the upward position against the bias of the spring I93. The lower end I9I of said shank may engage with a hole or recess I98--in the support 89 when the knob is rotated for alignment of the stop pin 195 withthe hole I96; the spring- I93 biasing the shank to move into ,said recess I98.

This arrangement-of the knob and shank I99 pro vides means for preventing movement of theslide plate I89 upon release of said slide plate from engagement with thelatch pin I16; This device may be used by the operator to. hold the printing element I I9 in position for a second impression, that is, a second operation of the handle IIZ from the same printing element or plate II9'. By a simple turning movement-,ofthe'knob I89 into or outof the position in which the stop.

pin I95 may pass downwardly through the hole I96, which motion may be given simultaneously withmovement of the'sli-de'plate. I89'toward the leftin Figure 5, the end I9'I. of the shank I99. may be in position toenga'ge the hole or recess I98 upon completion of the movement of the slide plate I89 toward the left. Itwill thusbe clear that when feeding motion of the sheet iseffected in the manner described in connection with Figures 1 and 2the sheet may bestoppedin its proper position for receiving an imprint from the printing element I I9 and. that this imprint may be repeated upon the succeeding form-'- area of the sheet or in any second positiondetermined by the form ofthe cam 44 and the notches 49 thereof with respect to the movementeffected' by the rotation of the roll II; Two impressions from the same plate may be made on two succeeding form areas if a cam of the'type shown in Figure l'is usedin connection with a gear reduction mechanism producing one-revolution of the cam for a delivery of the sheet partly shown in dotted outline in Figure 5, is"

intended to be the same as that shown in Figure 2.- In addition, however, to the arm 69 is pivotally fastened upon a pin 299 an arm 292.

Slidably fitting into said arm 292 is a shank 294 I of a latching extension 296. A spring 298 surrounding the shank 299 and between the arm 292- and the.- extension 295 biases said extension 299 to moveupwardly away from the arm 292. The extension 296 passes upwardly through a hole in the support 89 into a recess 2I9 in the bottom face of the. slide plate I89. Under the bias of the springs and 65, as shown in Figure 2, the lever Eli-keeps the extension 299 in engagement with the recess 2I9 when the lever 69 is in its upper position, the camball 52 being then held in the recess: 45. When,. however, pressure is placed upon the treadle i5 and the lever 69 is moved downwardly, the arm- 292 also is moved downwardly and may draw the extension 296'fromthe recess 2 I9 :in the slide plate I89. To this end the shank 294 may have fastened thereto a pin 291 slidable-in-a 51012295 in the arm 292. When under thebias'oi the spring 298 the pin 29'! bears againstthe upper end of the slot 295 the extension 299 thereafter will move with the arm 292. The arrangement being described is intended to be alternative to the releasing vmechanism, including thelatch pin I19; which is connected to be operable with the handle H2 .of the printing device I91. It will be understood, after the imprint is made upon the sheet and the treadle I5 is pressed to start the sheet to movelinto the next position of printing, that during this movement of .the sheetthe printing element II9 may be moved from the printing position into the position-clear of the sheet; Withdrawal of the latchingextension298from the recess 2I9'wil1 effect this release of the plate iflfl'without relation to the mechanism for applying the inking material to the'sheet; provided said plate is not under pressure of the printing device.

Moreover, when the treadle I5 is released and the cam ball 62. may, therefore, move into the recess'tfi, thusrestoringthe arm'59 of the bell crank 50 to its upper position, the latching extension 296'will be moved to bear upon the under face of the slideplate 99 or will be clear of the slide plate I89; depending upon the place at which the arm 29! is attached to the arm 99'and depend ingupon the relation of the mechanism for efiecting movement of the sheet to the printing mechanism. As shown in Figure 5, the'left hand end of the slide plate I89 may be provided with a bevel I85 .on itslowerside similar to the bevel I88 amount between two printing positions and especially those applications in which the printing element must be changed for each printing position or is used for only a few impressions, thereafter to be replaced by another printing element. The invention provides ready accessibility to the printing 7 element, ready inspection thereof to identify it with the form area of the sheet to be printed and ready identification of the printing element when in the position clear of the sheet for removal thereof from the printing device'to the file or storage device'in which it is to be kept. Modifications of the arrangement of the parts may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention according to which the printing element is moved to the position clear of the sheet in a direction like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet, generally in a plane parallel to the surface of the sheet. All such variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I now claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a printing element, means for applying pressure upon the printing face of said element, means for moving sheet material in the direction of a face dimension thereof and between said printing element and said pres- I sure means, said printing element and said pressure applying means being supported and arranged to be moved together into and out of said relation to said sheet in a direction generally parallel to the face of said sheet in its printing posi tion. a

'2. Apparatus comprising a printing element,

means for applying pressure upon the printing face of said element, means for moving sheet ma terial in the direction of a face dimension thereof and between said printing element and said pressure means, and means for removably supporting said printing element in said relation to saidpressure means and to said sheet, said supporting means and said pressure means together being reciprocable into and out of the position of said relation of said printing element and said pressure means to said sheet in a direction generally paral lel to said face of the sheet.

3. Apparatus comprising means formaking a mark upon the surface of a sheet, means for moving said sheet from the position in which it'is so marked a predetermined distance in a direction generally like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet to a second position for marking another portion of the sheet, and means for holding said moving means against movement upon completion of said movement through said predetermined distance, said means for marking the sheet being constructed and arranged for movement thereof in a direction like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet to a position clear of the sheet in which said marking means is accessible for replacement by another marking means and being so movable upon release of said sheet moving means from said holding means.

4. Apparatus comprising means engaging a sheet to move said sheet in the direction of a surface dimension thereof upon movement of said engaging means, power means, means for causing said power means to move said sheet engaging means, means acting to maintain the movement of said sheet engaging means under the action of said power means during the movement of the sheet through a predetermined distance in said direction of its movement, means for releasing said sheet engaging means from the action of said sheet arranged to make such mark in a pre determined relation to the sheet upon completion of said predetermined movement, and means operable upon completion of the marking operation and upon action of said means for maintaining movement of the sheet to-cause movement of said marking means in a direction like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet to a position clear of the sheet in which position said marking means is accessible for replacement by another marking means. 7

5. Apparatus comprising rotary means contacting a sheet'to move said sheet in the direction of a surface dimension thereof upon rotation of said rotary means, power means, means operable to connect said power means to said rotary-means to cause rotation of said rotary means, said connecting means also being operable, to disconnect said power means from said rotary means, means for holding said rotary means against movement upon disconnection of said power means therefrom, means operable at will to release said holding'means and to operate said means for connecting said power means to said rotary means to cause rotation of said rotary'means, means for limiting the motion of said rotary means to cause 'a predetermined movement of the sheet, said holding means being so constructed and arranged with respect to said means connecting said power means to said rotary means as to cause disconnection of said power means from said rotary which said printing element is accessible for replacement by another printing element, and means for somoving said printing element upon release of said means holding said rotary means.

6. Apparatus comprising rotary means contacting a sheet to move said sheet in the direction of a surface dimension thereof upon rotation of said.

rotary means, power means, means operable to connect said power means to said rotary means to cause rotation of said rotary means, said connecting means also being operable to disconnect said power means from said rotary means, means for holding said rotary means against movement upon disconnection of said power means therefrom, means operable at will'to release said holding means and to operate said means for connecting said power means to said rotary means to cause rotation of said rotary means, means for limiting the motion of said rotary means to cause a predetermined movement of the sheet, said holding means being so constructed and arranged with respect to said means connecting said power means to said rotary means as to cause disconnection of said power means from said rotary means upon completion of said predetermined movement of the sheet to interrupt movement thereof and thereafter to hold said rotary means and said sheet against movement until released, means for actuating said holding means to release said rotary meansand to cause connection thereof with'said power means, and a printing element supported adjacent the surface of the sheet and arranged upon actuation of said'holding means releasing said rotary means to be movable in a direction like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet into a position clear of the sheet in which said printing element is accessible for replacement by another printing element.

'7. Apparatus comprising means supporting a sheet with at least a portion of its extent in the plane of a surface dimension therof, means for making a mark upon said surface of the sheet, said marking means including a marking element, said marking element being so supported and arranged adjacent the surface of the sheet as to be biased to move in a direction generally like-extending with a dimension of said surface of the sheet to a position clear of the sheet in which said marking element is accessible, and means connected to a movable member of said means for making a mark upon the sheet and arranged to hold said element against its bias in the marking position during the marking operation of said marking means and to release said marking element upon completion of said marking operation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said marking element may be moved at will against its bias from said position clear of the sheet to the position of marking the sheet.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said marking element may be moved at will against its bias from said position clear of the sheet tothe position of marking the sheet, said holding means being arranged to be biased to engage and hold said marking element upon completion of said motion thereof into said marking position.

10. Apparatus comprising means supporting a sheet with at least a portion of its extent in the plane of a surface dimension thereof, means for making a mark upon said surface of the sheet,-

said marking means including a marking element, said marking element being so supported and arranged adjacent the surface of the sheet as to be biased to move in a direction generally like-extending with a dimension of said surface of the sheet to a position clear of the sheet in which said marking element is accessible, means connected to a movable member of said means for making a mark upon the sheet and arranged to hold said element against its bias in the marking position but capable of movement to release said marking element to move under its bias, and means constructed and arranged to prevent movement of said holding means during part of the motion of said movable member but before completion of the motion of said member completing the marking operation to cause motion of said holding means so as to effect release of said marking element.

11. In combination with a printing device of the type in which the printing element is held in position adjacent one face of the sheet and the inking material is applied to the opposite face of the sheet by means acting to apply pressure to said opposite face of the sheet to press said sheet against said printing element, means engaging said printing element and biased to hold said element against motion thereof when said element is in printing position, said element when released from said engagement being movable in a direction generally like-extending with a surface dimension of the sheet to a position clear of the sheet, means engaged by a movable member of said pressure applying means during at least a part of the motion of applying pressure upon the sheet but free of force transmitting connection to said biased holding means, said means engaged by said movable member being so constructed and arranged as to receive engagement of said movable member during a part of the motion of said pressure means during which pressure substantially is removed from said sheet and so as to move sad holding means against its bias to release said printing element when said force is received from said movable member by said means engaged thereby.

12. Apparatus comprising means for moving a sheet in the direction of a surface dimension thereof, means for intermittently positively hold ing said sheet moving means against said movement thereof, a printing element arranged adjacent a face of said sheet and to be movable in the direction of a surface dimension of the sheet, means for holding said printing element against said motion, and means connecting said two holding means to release said printing element when said means for holding said sheet moving means is ineffective to hold said sheet against said motion thereof.

13. Apparatus comprising means continuously and positively engaging a sheet to move said sheet in the direction of a surface dimension thereof upon movement of said engaging means, power means, means connected between said power means and said sheet engaging means to cause said power means to move said sheet engaging means and alternately to release said sheet engaging means from said power means while preventing movement of said sheet engaging means, a printing element arranged adjacent a face of said sheet and to be movable in the direction of a surface dimension of the sheet, means for holding said printing element against said motion, and means connecting said holding means with said means connected between said power means and said sheet engaging means and arranged to release said printing element upon action of said means connected between said power means and said sheet engaging means which causes said power means to move said sheet engaging means.

14. Apparatus according to claim '7, including means operable at will to prevent movement of said element under its bias when released by said holding means.

HENRY VAN RIPER SCHEEL. 

